Assessment of Constraints and Opportunities of Honey Production in Gombora Haddiya Zone, South Nation Nationality and People Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in Gombora District, South nation national people regional state, Ethiopia to identify major beekeeping constraints and opportunities. Structured questionnaire was employed for the study. The study used interviews, surveys and visual observation as methods in looking for answer to research questions. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were employed to select 180 beekeepers from two Peasants Association. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS version 20. The result of the study exposed that the average amount of honey harvested /hive/year from traditional hive, transitional hive and modern hive were 8.22±0.042, 13.83±1.05 and 18.2±2.52 respectively. The mean yield obtained from the three hives were statistically significant at (p < 0.05).The most factors influencing honey pricing in the study area were distance from market( 38%), quality of honey (20%), consumers‟ preference (20%), color (10%), and test of honey (12%).The major constraints to beekeeping activity in the study area were: high cost of modern hives with accessories (1st), shortage of bee forage (2nd), pests and predators (6rd, poising of bee colonies (4th), low quality of honey product (5th) and poor infrastructure development (3th). Regardless of the constraints encountered this sub sector; there are also future opportunities for beekeeping development in the District. These include; presence of huge number of bee colonies, progressively increasing the demand of local honey, presence of beekeepers association and presence of good government policy. The study exposed that the price of honey in the study area is influenced by quality of honey, color, consumers‟ preference, distance from market and test of honey. Extra study is required to evaluation of honey quality in study area; characterize honey beekeeping practice in the study area and major pests, predators and disease of economic importance.